I was told recently that Santa Barbara beer and breweries simply weren’t that good. Naturally, I disagreed. Over the weekend, the breweries — at least a couple in nearby Buellton and Paso Robles — did their part to support me by winning medals at the World Beer Cup.

First up, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company added to its trophy hall under the guidance of brewmaster A.J. Stoll with a silver medal for Davy Brown Ale and a bronze for the Danish Red Lager. The wins complement a big, 5-medal performance at last year’s GABF, and helps cement the brewery’s reputation as one of the finest in the area.

In my opinion, which means less than a medal I’m sure, the Danish Red Lager is a fine beer that is well-made, but Davy Brown Ale is a true shining star in the brown ale category. It’s a highly versatile beer that is well-deserving of its accolades. Congrats to A.J. and his team for their success.

And for anybody who enjoys black IPAs, or American Black Ales as the current trend seems to be calling them, it’s likely no surprise that Firestone Walker’s Wookey Jack took bronze in the category. The combination of the dark malt playing with the rye and the hops make Wookey Jack one of my favorite beers when I need my face punched in with flavor, and seeing Firestone Walker take home another award is a no-brainer here.